The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-12
TIE ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL GAS.

THE ADVANTAGES OF NATURAL GAS
II il hardly possible to overestimate the
benefits the city would derive from cheap
fuel like natural gas. The commercial ad-
vantages are the first to present themselves to
business men, and naturally excite most in
terest because they are most closely connect
ed with the prosperity of the city. A steady
supply of fuel for manufacturing purposes,
at price SO to so per cent. less than coal,
would be a large saving to every manufacturer
in the city. The immediate result would be
to give our manufacturers a great advantage
over their present competitors, and large
margin Of profit which they never enjoyed
before. This would mean greatly increased
prosperity to manufacturing interests,
and through them to the city at large. This
benefit would be continuous and cumula-
tive, increasing and piling up every
year. The enlargement of our present
factories, and the introduction of new
ones, would add very rapidly to the pop
ulation and wealth of the city, and every
branch Of business would share in the ben
efts.
But the commercial advantages would rep
resent only part, and perhaps not the largest
part, of the benefits of cheap-gas fuel. The
amount Of fuel used for domestic purposes
vastly exceeds that used for manufacturing
purposes. The number of persons who have
to be warmed in winter and cooked for the
year round is very much greater than the
number Of persons engaged or employed in
manufacturing-and even these have to be
warmed and fed at their homes. 1t follows
that the number Of persons to be benefited by
a cheap domestic fuel would greatly outnum-
Der those benefited by cheap manufacturing
fuel. The annual saving to our citizens by
even moderate reduction in the price of fuel
would amount in the aggregate to an enormous
sum, and this saving would represent more
comforts, more luxuries and easier conditions
Of life. .-,
But the money aspect is pot the only i'm
portant one. The gain in cleanliness, in
comfort, in convenience, in the saving of time
and of wear and tear can hardly be computed
in money value. As to the immense desir-
ability Of such fuel there be no two
opinions among a very large majority of the
people. A few from self-interest may oppose
it, but the masses Of the people are practically
unanimous in desiring the introduction of gas
as soon as possible, and on the best terms
possible, looking to the welfare of the city and
the interests of the public. Time enough
has been spent in discussing the main feat
ures of the question, and mono should be
wasted in higgling over details Large trans
actions Of this kind should be settled on broad
and general principles. and if both parties to
negotiation can agree on these it is poor
business sense to split on minor points. And
it would be an act Of stupendous folly to let
so great and desirable contamination as the
introduction OF gas be defeated by narrow,
local considerations or, worse yet, by the self
interested schemes Of few obstructionists.-
The Board of Aldermen fairly represents
the intelligent business sense of the COM
munity in its determination to press the pend
ing ordinance to passage soon possible.
Whatever amendments are needed to secure
the early introduction Of gas at fair rates and
under proper restrictions should be made, and
the ordinance passed at once.